Jasmine can be seen wearing one of her mother's bracelets in the live-action movie. As a matter of fact, it only makes us feel like we should start becoming filmmakers and replace those who have anointed themselves as our leaders. Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. The Stories Matter page on Disney's site notes the characters' connection to racist minstrel shows. Here is that wording. Some other Disney films, like Fantasia, Aladdin, and Peter Pan, have been criticized as well, but notably, Disneys Song of the South remains absent from the service. Disney is the only media outlet who can show Aladdin. (a conflict involving Iraqs invasion of neighboring Kuwait) in the early 1990s prompted the directors to set the story in the fictional city of Agrabah, an adaptation of Baghdad. This applies to classics such as Dumbo and Aladdin, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Most people consider Aladdin to be set somewhere in the Middle East. Original cartoon versions of movies such as Dumbo, The Jungle Book . Disney also came under fire for allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew members. The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. Background characters. Potato Head survived by a thread and liberal white men working at Disneyland saved black women from the horrors of Splash Mountain-now Aladdin is racist. I cant wait until Disney finally puts a warning label on their films portraying marriage like the fantasy that its never been. It might also have to do with some version of whitewashing, as most of the voice actors are white people? , which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. We take a look at the origins of the folktale, the previous dramatic portrayals of the story, the 1992 animated film, and how the filmmakers tried to overcome past controversy in the latest rendition of, At the end of the overview, you can also find. Critics say the movie producers have used this melting pot description as an excuse to be lazier in casting. So going forward, several such films on the Disney+ streaming service will include the following advisory: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. However, the outbreak of the first Gulf War (a conflict involving Iraqs invasion of neighboring Kuwait) in the early 1990s prompted the directors to set the story in the fictional city of Agrabah, an adaptation of Baghdad. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. It can also be argued that outrage about Naomi Scott is invalid, given the. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Disney+ Updates Offensive Content Disclaimer for Aladdin, Peter Pan and More, Amazon Prime Video Is Catching up to Netflix While HBO Max Outpaces Disney+ Growth, Disney: COVID Forces Restructure, Puts Greater Focus on Streaming Content, Disney+ Rebrands Non-MCU Marvel Films as Marvel Legacy, REVIEW: Frank Miller Presents Ancient Enemies: The Djinni #1 Crafts a Compelling Origin Story, REVIEW: DC's Shazam! Makes me think Disney is putting warnings out there so people buy their movies before they go back to retiring movies for a year or two to create demand curves for their products. Panoramic view of Agrabah from the 2019 shows real-seeming landscape featuring buildings with Islamic architecture. We coulda sworn we went to Disneyland and waited in line for two hours to be entertainednot for an education.. Creating a diverse and primarily non-white cast for the film was a huge step in accurately portraying a land set in the Middle East and moving towards greater diversity in Hollywood. It was even broader than that because we talked about the history of stereotypes and the lack of roles for Asian Americans. In "Sleeping Beauty," Prince Phillip kisses Aurora while she's unconscious. How do you feel about Aladdin? Now, it admits they were not just "outdated" but "wrong" even back then and that such negative portrayals had a harmful impact in real life. Aoki, who has worked with Disney-owned ABC in the past as a part of the Asian Pacific American Media Colation, says he has concerns that the language in the disclaimer would not be understandable to a younger audience, likely the biggest demographic for the massive Disney+ library that dates back over eight decades. Is it inaccurate? Here are 5: Dumbo (1941): Contains a scene of a group of cigar-smoking crows, with their leader named Jim Crow, referring to the racist segregation laws of the South, and voiced by a white actor . For many, Disneys 1992 film Aladdin conjures up images of innocence: star-crossed lovers on a magic carpet, a benevolent pet tiger and a comedic genie who would grant every hearts desire. The films with the updated disclaimer includePeter Pan, Dumbo, Lady andthe Tramp, Fantasia,The Jungle BookandSwiss Family Robinson, among others. Answer: Alladin has stereotypes of minorities that were considered acceptable by most people when it is made, but society has progressed and no longer view that as acceptable (for good reason). Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. While the movie is set in a city based on Baghdad, Iraq, Aladdin contains aspects of multiple Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. , earning over $346 million in worldwide box office revenue. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the 2019 film surpassed the original film within a month of its release at the box office. For instance, there are racist caricatures in "Dumbo" and . Archived post. To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit: www.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.". Itwould be great if Disney did it across the board for all of their older cartoons that may be a little insensitive., Guy Aoki, co-founder of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), sayshe has never seen 1992sAladdinhimself, but he was friends with Don Bustany, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and late deejay Casey Kasem, who were a part of a successful campaign to change problematic lyrics inAladdins introductory song Arabian Nights., They had meetings to talk about their concerns about how it was stereotyping Arab culture and how they wanted to get one line of the song changed, recalls Aoki. 2. Its a complete waste of time for our children who will eventually become whining Disney adults. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. Aladdin (/ l d n / -LAD-in; Arabic: , Al ud-Dn/ Al ad-Dn, IPA: [ala addin], ATU 561, 'Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale.It is one of the best-known tales associated with The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights), despite not being part of the original text; it was added by the Frenchman Antoine Galland, based . She won Best New Journalist in 2019 at the Australian IT Journalism Awards. While the voice cast of the 1992 movie was entirely white, the live-action film boasts a diverse cast. The crows in Dumbo. "Disney could have used stronger language, which would more proactively invite a conversation around the context of these caricatures," Swinburne University of Technology film and TV lecturer Jessica Balanzategui told CNET in June. The warning was crafted by Disney's advisors council, which includes representatives of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA),Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment,Define American,Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media,GLAAD Media Institute,Hollywood, Health & Society,IllumiNative,The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP),RespectAbility,The Science & Entertainment Exchange andTanenbaum. As the film-makers of the new live-action remake of Aladdin struggle to cast their hero, Sophia Smith Galer looks at the troubled history of the Disney classic. Disney+ updated its policy toward its films containing offensive material, postinga new disclaimer and adding new movies to its list of programs that feature"negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.". The disclaimer reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. While the 1992 film is widely perceived as problematic, many point to the fact that the worst parts (including racist lyrics and caricatures) have been removed and replaced with accurate Arabic script and culturally-appropriate dress. UPDATE: Disney has updated their content warning on Disney+ to an unskippable, 12-second message in front of controversial movies or shorts. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversations to create a more inclusive future together., Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. What? Disney said it created an advisory council made up of outside experts who helped the company "assess our content and ensure it accurately represents our global audiences." Potato Head survived by a thread and liberal white men working at Disneyland saved black women from the horrors of Splash Mountain-now Aladdin is racist. In its history, Disney has produced 56 animated movies. The highly controversial Song of the South (1946) is not available on the streaming service. 2. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. "These shouldn't be watched by children by themselves," Daryl Sparkes, senior lecturer of media studies and production at the University of Southern Queensland, told CNET, "because children are like little sponges and they soak up attitudes and feelings and opinions.". Disney's policy here is also sketchy considering the sheer amount of content still edited on Disney+. As mentioned above, the original, one of many films released as part of the, Here, TeachMideast provides you with in-depth background and context so you can decide for yourself whether society is succeeding in its demand that Hollywood do a better job portraying minorities. , with $232.4 million domestic and $372.5 million international for the musical remake. The decision to attach this message to some animated films was met with both praise from people who viewed it as an accountability measure and criticism from those who thought its wording was. If anything it highlighted overcoming a class struggle but I guess Marxism has mutated to race and gender now. Hang tough and the story itself argue that the tale of Aladdin is inherently racist and Orientalist, and, regardless of the setting, is simply a colonial European view of the exotic East. Ron Clements and John Musker, the directors of the 1992 film, said in 2015 that the movie was originally intended to be set in Baghdad, Iraq. film within a month of its release at the box office. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. Many have referenced the WB. Warner Brothers has included these on a number of older cartoons, rather than erase the cartoons or remove them from circulation or the like, and Disney now appears to be following suit with some of their older work. "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Disney. The new disclaimer appears on screen before the start of movies like Aladdin, The Aristocats, Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and The Three Caballeros. Yeah, probably not because that message doesnt help them pander. Today, Disneys new content, as well as all its properties, now pushes a radical, left-wing agenda harmful to children and the nuclear family. "Rather than removing this content, we see an opportunity to spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all." The Disney drama kicked into higher gear after we saw Dr. Seuss books go from being $5 to $500. This week saw the death of Dr Jack Shaheen, one of the most respected and loudest critics of the vilification of Arabs in Hollywood, who successfully campaigned for offensive lyrics to be changed in the original Aladdin soundtrack. Outrage flared again when Disney announced that they had cast white actor Billy Magnussen in a newly-created role of a Scandinavian prince vying for Jasmines attention. Answer: Well I don't know which version they are showing, but in the origubal the salesman in the beginning sings that in the east they cut off your tongue and ears or something in that fashion when they catch you stealing, which is considered stereotyping. I would hope that Disney would do it for all the films that might include some things that are a little outdated, says Azita Ghanizada, founder of MENA (Middle Eastern North African) Arts Advocacy Coalition. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. It reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. See some of the major differences between the films in this chart designed by our summer interns. Disney did not respond toTHRs request for comment. Thus, when Disney reported in 2016 that a live-action adaptation was in the works, director Guy Ritchie had to contend with the original films controversial legacy. There are a number of reasons why these titles are removed. The movie itself never explicitly states where in the real world the story is taking place, so all fans can do is speculate. As part of Disneys Stories Matter initiatives advisory council, Robertson and his colleagues watch films believed to possibly be problematic and then tell Disney their reaction. In the examples below, the, With the advent of the Hollywood film industry, the story returned to its fabled Middle Eastern origins, replete with exotic and exaggerated stereotypes note the poster for a. October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM While the majority of films and series that are added to Disney+ continue to be available, some titles, unfortunately, have been removed from Disney+. No plug forthcoming. Abby Monteil. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. But, a completely white cast voiced the film, and the association of Arabs with violence, greed and other negative traits suggested that Hollywood was insensitive at best and xenophobic at worst. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. While the 1992 movie had all the fairy-tale elements to attract viewers adventure and intrigue, an evil villain, a plucky underdog, a forlorn princess trapped by tradition, and an array of supporting characters. Pray tell who is offended by Aladdin? The meetings are held virtually and are very raw according to one attendee. Other companies and brands, likeAunt Jemimaand Uncle Ben's, have also recently taken steps to recognize and distance themselves from racist stereotypes by changing their branding in the wake of widespread protests for racial justice in the U.S. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. ORIGINAL STORY: Disney Plus is officially out in the wild now, and while it features a ton of new movies and shows like The Mandalorian, a Lady and the Tramp remake, and Jeff Goldblum, users are noticing that some older content is coming with an outdated cultural depictions warning. Disney also puts silly, PC warning labels before much of its back catalog of films. The 2019 film also removed several instance of the most egregious racism from the animated film. But I've realized how problematic Aladdin's character is. Our job is not to get up and say, Heres a movie that you should feel guilty about for liking. But to pretend that the racism in it is not painful and acute? After Mr. October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM / CBS News Disney is adding a disclaimer to some of its old movies that include racist stereotypes, the media giant announced this month. Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. While he is technically only a sidekick character, he has a huge part to play in the film. The problems in Alladin specifically, I believe, are that an Arabic accent was used only for the villain, songs had racist lyrics, and there were very inaccurate and stereotyped portrayals of the entire setting/region. An adamant defender of The Last Jedi and the series finale of Lost, he can be reached at sam.g@cbr.com or through his Twitter, @SamMgelman. Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? Since Disney is so horrified of its own movie, perhaps they should return the hundreds of millions of dollars they made off it. All rights reserved. That was really fantastic of [Paramount] to do that., Ghanizada says the language feels similar to the warning that this program contains nudity or violence, adding that it is a broad catchall. Just so were clear, Disney made Aladdin. But its good that Disney is protecting the world from what they have deemed racist Middle Eastern tropes invented by none other than people from the Middle East. Rather, the story was often presented as a hybrid tale of the exoticized Orient meeting modern English-language styles and fashions, according to one critic. The song Arabian Nights, which initially referred to Agrabah as a place where they cut off your ear if they dont like your face/its barbaric, but hey, its home, has altered lyrics. Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? Press J to jump to the feed. A content advisory notice for racism in classic Disney films, in place since last year, has been updated with a strengthened message. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. But just which films and shows meet the criteria for the disclaimer is not clear. That, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. The only question is how to best address this. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. It would be helpful if they were more specific as to whats the problem because I think people can learn from this, he says. Source. Aladdin film poster comparison. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. This supports the idea that Genie only changes Aladdin's appearance, which he also indirectly confirms a few lines later: Yet, they and their media family, (like ESPN) are always the first in line seeking to cancel anything that remotely upsets them. The movie that inspired her to want a career in film is Lost in Translation. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Yes, Skorodin says. ALADDIN: Genie, I wish for you to make me a prince! First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. Whether the new film-makers choose to stand in the old guard or vanguard remains to be seen. It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. The company said that while it can't change he past, "we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together.". Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? Fans questioned the need to include this new character whose appearance was ultimately inconsequential and wondered why a white character had to be added to a refreshingly-multicultural film. But out of all those movies, there are only a handful that have managed to truly capture the hearts of audiences. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. Jennifer Bisset is a Senior Editor for CNET. Thats basically what they did and its the arrogance of Hollywood and the arrogance of Disney to say its our idea, its our money and were going to do it, whether you like it or not.. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. Weve had some very raw conversations on those Zooms, African American Film Critics Association President Gil Robertson told the Hollywood Reporter. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. ', Skyhawk notes that even with disclaimers, the damage created by outdated depictions will be difficult to erase: That having been said, Im just glad that were now entering a new phase of sensitivity towards minorities and including the native people of America that is long overdue.. Top row shows the 1992 animated cast while below are the actors used in the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin. Not only does Aladdin have a chance to lift a generation of actors from being type-cast as terrorists to the ranks of famous actors, but it also awakens a curiosity among audiences toward the. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. For more information, please see our Its either that or the children are rebelling against authority. First noticed by Twitter user @324_B21, and reported by Mashable, films like the original 1941 Dumbo, The Aristocats, Jungle Book, the 1955 animated Lady and the Tramp all feature the same outdated culturual depictions warning. The film remains controversial to this day. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Alan Menken, famed Disney composer, discusses enduring appeal of "Aladdin." The musical visits San Jose this month, with live-action film due in May. Aladdin never had a content warning until now, but the edited version has always been on Disney+. Here, TeachMideast provides you with in-depth background and context so you can decide for yourself whether society is succeeding in its demand that Hollywood do a better job portraying minorities. I know that they would be very disappointed that there is not even a disclaimer to acknowledge that there are some questionable things in that film.. Additionally, 1992s animatedAladdin, criticized for its racist depictions of West Asian culture, does not feature the warning in its synopsis. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. Samuel Gelman started at CBR as a news writer in August 2019 before becoming a news editor in November 2019. Sky has issued a disclaimer alongside a number of its films that have 'outdated values' including the 1986 hit Aliens (pictured: Sigourney Weaver) The broadcasting giants say it is reviewing. Answer: A lot of older movies (god I hate calling movies from the 90's "older") include often passive stereotypes or themes about minority groups that while may not have been intentionally harmful, still perpetuate potentially harmful or offensive ideas about a culture or location. and our One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. The original movie contains a scene of Goofy smoking a cigarette that was previously edited on Disney+. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. No one thats who. Disney films have been a mainstay in many people's childhoods for generations, but some elements of them don't hold up today. Probably some more stuff political invorrect stuff while they show how the people act in town, depicting the way they act in a negative way? Gary-I have to say I really look forward to your posts; you have extremely interesting, independent and logically defensible takes on a variety of subjects. ", Disney said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." Gary Sheffield, Jr That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? A subreddit to help you keep up to date with what's going on with reddit and other stuff. Extra commentary could be added to films requiring a disclaimer, he explains, such as the 2009 DVD rerelease ofBreakfast at Tiffanys that includes a featurette Aoki participated in, discussing Mickey Rooneys problematic character Mr. Something like this is surely the reason they put it afront of the video, just to be safe. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the. 8. 5. Disney is now issuing tougher warnings against racial stereotypes in some of its classic films on its Disney+ streaming service. Sonny Skyhawk, founder of American Indians in Film and Television, tells THR thatfilms such as 1995s Pocahontas and 2013s The Lone Rangerrequire the disclaimer due to inaccuracies and insensitivity towards the Native American community. Shaheen warned that these images would perpetuate negative stereotypes that literally sustain adverse portraits across generations. He argued: There is a commanding link between make-believe aberrations and the real world, and warned of the negative portrayal of Agrabah, the films fictionalised city that he called Hollywoods fabricated Ayrabland. It appears that for some, this warning wasnt unfounded: in 2015 it was revealed that 30% of Republican voters in the US would vote in support of bombing Agrabah. After Shaheen protested against the film alongside the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Disney agreed to alter the lyrics in Arabian Nights for Aladdin's video release in 1993, and defended it, as it was a rare film to feature an Arab hero and heroine. It's a bunch of small things here or there that most people wouldn't think much about, but it's a good step forward to at least acknowledge the potential for harm or offense even where none was meant. InPeter Pan, offensive Native Americans caricatures appear throughout the story, along with the problematic song, What Makes the Red Man Red. Lady and the Trampand another Disney animated animal film,Aristocats, both feature cats that mock Asian Americans with illustration and voice acting. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit. You can also see our lesson plan on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. I assume it also has to do with being more sensitive towards muslim culture nowadays, as the last twenty years there was quite the bashing for the group as a whole. Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. 1. After Mr. A lot. The film remains controversial to this day. Jungle Bookreceived a disclaimer, yet its 2003 animated sequel did not. Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list.